Opening Sentence
“All these with one accord were devoting themselves to prayer” (Acts 1:14).
Invitatory
O Lord, open our lips;
and our mouth shall proclaim your praise.
O God, make speed to save us;
O Lord, make haste to help us.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Praise the Lord.
The Lord’s name be praised.
Hymn
Sing “Spirit of the Living God.”
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me,
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Break me, melt me, mold me, fill me.
Spirit of the Living God,
Fall afresh on me.
Psalm 104:1–2, 24–25, 27–28, 29b–30
Bless the Lord, O my soul! O Lord my God, you are very great! You are clothed with splendor and majesty, 2 covering yourself with light as with a garment, stretching out the heavens like a tent.
Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the ground.
24 O Lord, how manifold are your works! In wisdom have you made them all; the earth is full of your creatures. 25 Here is the sea, great and wide, which teems with creatures innumerable, living things both small and great.
Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the ground.
27 These all look to you, to give them their food in due season. 28 When you give it to them, they gather it up; when you open your hand, they are filled with good things.
Send forth your Spirit and renew the face of the ground.
29 When you hide your face, they are dismayed; … 30 When you send forth your Spirit, they are created, and you renew the face of the ground.
Glory be to the Father and to the Son and to the Holy Spirit, as it was in the beginning, is now and ever shall be, world without end. Amen.
Prayer to the Holy Spirit
This prayer to the Holy Spirit, often prayed in the evening, is commonly attributed to Saint Antiochus, a 2nd century martyr.
O Holy Spirit, most merciful Comforter: You proceed from the Father in a manner beyond our understanding. Come, I beseech You, and take up your abode in my heart. Purify and cleanse me from all sin, and sanctify my soul. Cleanse it from every impurity, water its dryness, melt its coldness, and save it from its sinful ways. Make me truly humble and resigned, that I may be pleasing to You and that You might abide with me forever. Most Blessed Light, most Amiable Light, enlighten me. O Rapturous Joy of Paradise, Fount of Purest Delight, My God, give yourself to me and kindle in my innermost soul the fire of Your love. My Lord, instruct, direct, and defend me in all things. Give me strength against all immoderate fears and against despondency. Bestow upon me a true faith, a firm hope, and a sincere and perfect love. Grant that I always do Thy Most Gracious Will. Amen.
Ex Tempore Prayer: For Spiritual Hunger
Pray that God would break through any coldness in our hearts and give us a deep hunger for a fresh outpouring of the Holy Spirit.
The Prayer of the Holy Spirit
The Prayer of the Holy Spirit is prayed in the weekly Orthodox liturgy. It can be found on page 266 of the catechism book.
O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth: You are everywhere and fill all things. Treasury of blessings, Giver of life: come and abide in us, and cleanse us from every impurity, and save our souls, O Good One. Amen.
Ex Tempore Prayer: For Cleansing From Sin
Pray that the Holy Spirit would expose and cleanse any sinfulness in us or in our church, such as pride, greed, lust, anger, envy, bitterness, and resentment.
Prayer for Complete Holiness
The following prayer of Augustine can be found on page 266 of the catechism book.
Breathe in me, O Holy Spirit, that my thoughts may all be holy. Act in me, O Holy Spirit, that my work, too, may be holy. Draw my heart, O Holy Spirit, that I love only what is holy. Strengthen me, O Holy Spirit, to defend all that is holy. Guard me, then, O Holy Spirit, that I may always be holy. Amen.
Ex Tempore Prayer: For Virtue
Pray that the Holy Spirit would cause his fruit to ripen in our lives, and that these virtues would permeate our church: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, self-control.
Veni Creator Spiritus
The hymn “Veni Creator Spiritus” (“Come, Creator Spirit”) is one of the best-known Pentecost hymns, dating back to around 809 AD (over 1,200 years old). A version of this hymn can be found on page 356 of the catechism book.
Come, Holy Ghost, Creator blest,
Vouchsafe within our souls to rest;
Come with Thy grace and heav’nly aid
And fill the hearts which Thou hast made.
To Thee, the Comforter, we cry,
To Thee, the Gift of God Most High,
The Fount of life, the Fire of love,
The soul’s Anointing from above.
The sev’n-fold gifts of grace are Thine,
O Finger of the Hand Divine;
True Promise of the Father Thou,
Who dost the tongue with speech endow.
Thy light to every thought impart
And shed Thy love in every heart;
The weakness of our mortal state
With deathless might invigorate.
Drive far away our wily Foe,
And Thine abiding peace bestow;
If Thou be our protecting Guide,
No evil can our steps betide.
Make Thou to us the Father known;
Teach us the eternal Son to own
And Thee, whose name we ever bless,
Of both the Spirit, to confess.
Praise we the Father and the Son
And Holy Spirit, with them One;
And may the Son on us bestow
The gifts that from the Spirit flow! Amen.
Ex Tempore Prayer: For Spiritual Gifts
Pray that the Holy Spirit would help us to be active and intentional—not lazy or slothful—in using our spiritual gifts for the good of the church.
Collect (BCP)
O God, the King of glory, you have exalted your only Son Jesus Christ with great triumph to your kingdom in heaven: Do not leave us comfortless, but send us your Holy Spirit to strengthen us, and exalt us to that place where our Savior Christ has gone before; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, in glory everlasting. Amen.
Ex Tempore Prayer: For Healing and Harmony
Pray that the Holy Spirit would heal any wounds or resentment in our heart towards others, and help us to live in peace and harmony with everyone.
Veni Sancte Spiritus
The hymn “Veni Sancte Spiritus” (“Come, Holy Spirit”), not to be confused with “Veni Creator Spiritus” (“Come, Creator Spirit”) is another famous Pentecost hymn, likely dating back to the 13th century.
Holy Spirit, Lord of light,
From Thy clear celestial height
Thy pure beaming radiance give.
Come, Thou Father of the poor,
Come with treasures which endure,
Come, Thou Light of all that live.
Thou, of all consolers best,
Thou, the soul’s delightsome Guest,
Dost refreshing peace bestow.
Thou in toil art comfort sweet,
Pleasant coolness in the heat,
Solace in the midst of woe.
Light immortal, Light divine,
Visit Thou these hearts of Thine,
And our inmost being fill.
If Thou take Thy grace away,
Nothing pure in man will stay;
All his good is turned to ill.
Heal our wounds; our strength renew;
On our dryness pour Thy dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away.
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray.
Thou, on those who evermore
Thee confess and Thee adore,
In Thy sevenfold gifts descend:
Give them comfort when they die,
Give them life with Thee on high;
Give them joys that never end. Amen.
Ex Tempore Prayer: For Power to Witness
Pray that the Holy Spirit would give us boldness, courage, and power to witness to others and win souls for Jesus.
Collect (RM)
O Lord, fulfill for us your gracious promise, that by his coming the Holy Spirit may make us witnesses before the world to the gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, who lives and reigns forever and ever. Amen.
Ex Tempore Prayer: For Other Needs
Pray about any other needs or burdens on your heart. “The Spirit helps us in our weakness. For we do not know what to pray for as we ought, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us with groanings too deep for words. And he who searches hearts knows what is the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for the saints according to the will of God” (Rom. 8:26–27).
Conclusion
Almighty God, you have given us grace at this time, with one accord, to make our common supplications unto you; and you have promised that when two or three are gathered together in your name, you will grant their requests. Fulfill now, O Lord, the desires and petitions of your servants, as may be best for us, granting us in this world knowledge of your truth, and in the world to come life everlasting. Amen.
May the God and Father who raised our Lord Jesus Christ from the dead fill you with new and living hope through the grace of the Holy Spirit. Amen.
